📆 The Shortlist. Issue 24 - August 20-23, 2026
Welcome to The Shortlist! It’s your weekly snapshot of what to do with your kiddo in SF this week, plus a few highlights for the upcoming weekend. Short and sweet, every week.
🎒Field Trip Social Club🎒
We're starting a social club for kiddos and families, and you're invited.
It's called the Field Trip Social Club and it's exactly what it sounds like. We pick the spot, plan the outing, and you just show up to be social. Family field trips to the places actually worth going, parent nights when you need to remember you're a whole person, and a crew of SF families who do the thing instead of just saving the post. Let’s build community IRL!
So, let’s go on a field trip! Our first one will be a Friday trip to the San Francisco Zoo to see the animals and listen to live music at Sunset Fridays on Friday, August 28th 🌅. Consider this your official welcome to the club. More details in the permission slip.
📌 On the agenda 📌
Things that we are pinning to do with our kiddos this week.
All Week
Thursday 8/20
10:00-10:45 - Toddlers unite for outdoor musical fun with JAMaROO Kids at Toddler Thursday. (Salesforce Park)
10:00-12:00 - Let your kiddo dig, water, explore and play in the dirt at Bean Sprouts Family Days. (Golden Gate Park)
10:30 - Go to a Baby & Me Pilates class. (Outer Sunset)
11:00-12:15 - Moms, take a moment to breathe at a Postpartum Yoga class. (Mission)
11:30 - Go to Music & Movement with Jamaroo and have a playdate at Peek-a-Boo Factory.
11:30-1:30 - Listen to live music in Union Square.
12:00-1:00 - Practice your chess skills at Chess on the Plaza. (Downtown)
12:00-3:00 - Listen to live music in Civic Center.
1:00-2:00 - Bond with newborn parents (0-6 months) at a new parent circle. (Mission)
3:00 - Have a movie day with your kiddo and watch Luca at the Walt Disney Family Museum. (Presidio)
3:30-4:30 - Bond with parents of growing babies (6 months-2 years) at a new parent circle. (Mission)
4:00-6:00 - Let your bigger kiddo practice open range archery. (Mission)
4:00-9:00 - Go to a state fair without leaving SF at Cole Valley Nights.
4:30-6:30 - Make back to school charms at Crafternoons in Union Square.
4:30-7:30 - Sip, stroll and savor great wine at the California Dreamin' Noe Valley Summer Wine Walk.
5:00-7:00 - Listen to free live music at the Ferry Building.
5:30-7:00 - Build community at a Fatherhood Group. (Inner Sunset)
6:00-8:00 - Let your bigger kiddo practice open range archery. (Mission)
Friday 8/21
10:00-1:00 - Enjoy a morning of music with your little kiddo at Little Bears Music Class for Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers. (Chase Center)
11:30-1:30 - Learn to play chess in Union Square.
2:30-5:00 - Braid your own challah with your kiddo at Twist of Tradition: Hands-On Challah.
3:00 - Have a movie day with your kiddo and watch Luca at the Walt Disney Family Museum. (Presidio)
3:30-5:00 - Let your child’s creativity and imagination run wild at a Free Day of Play. (Mission)
4:00 - See a cool car show and listen to live music at Hot August Nights in the Fillmore. 🪣
5:00-8:00 - Head to Marina Green grab food, participate in activations and watch The Parent Trap at Sundown Cinema (the movie starts at Sundown!).
5:00-6:30 - Have a roller disco night with the kiddos. (Hayes Valley)
5:00-7:00 - Go to Sunset Fridays, an outdoor concert at the San Francisco Zoo.
5:00-10:00 - Grab food, and listen to live music at the last Fort Mason Night Market for this season.
5:00-10:00 - Celebrate culture and community at Castro Night Market. 🪣
📆 Plan Ahead 📆
Things that we’re looking forward to this weekend. More to come in our weekend guide!
Saturday 8/22
Head to The Magic Patio, for an all-ages matinee magic show designed specifically for family audiences.
Support young filmmakers at the Noe Valley Girls Film Festival.
Welcome the Snowy Plovers back to Ocean Beach at a Welcome Back Plover Party.
Listen to live music and lounge with your kiddo at Duboce ParkJam.
Sunday 8/23
Celebrate culture and community at Sunday Streets: Bayview Community Block Party. 🪣
Go to a Family Studio: Abstract Shapes to create art inspired by Ellsworth Kelly’s artwork.
Join San Francisco Aid for Animals for a for a paw-some Tea Party at the Zoo.
👀 On Our Feed 👀
Posts, threads, and content that made us stop scrolling.
P.S. Want to partner with us? Have an event we should highlight? We work with brands that parents actually want in their lives (you know, the ones that don't make us choose between "kid-friendly" and "still cool"). Email us at [email protected] if that sounds like you.
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